MINING INDABA 09 ART EXHIBITION

Mining Indaba Art Exhibition with the team. Monumental 2.5m high drawings on
archival cotton paper framed with toughened glass -images of headgears from
archives and museums. Drawings made with artist made hand crafted pastels
comprised of metal oxides graphite, carbon, titanium and iron oxides
on Fabriano on Cotton Rag Archival Paper 2008

These majestic charcoal and pastel sketches on archival cotton fibre paper are inspired
by shaft head frames from the 45 kilometres of Archive records at the old Gaol in Cape Town and the archives at the Africa Museum in Johannesburg. Unite sourced old mining
images, illustrations, documents and photographs that offer insight into the ecological, economical, geological, historical, social and technological impact of the mining industry.

Drawing with artist made hand crafted pastels comprised of metal oxides graphite,
carbon, titanium and iron oxides on Fabriano on Cotton Rag Archival Paper 2008
Jeannette Unite's Eco-Alchemical Glass Art incorporates materials like recycled mine
dump waste from Johannesburg gold mines, Kimberley diamond mines, platinum and
copper mines and magnesium mines and iron ore mines in the Kalahari as well as
Namaqualand’s Simon van der Stel mine – the oldest colonial copper mine in South
Africa. The minerals are 'frozen' between recycled glass through a process involving
abnormally high temperatures that set off a magma like explosion of chemical reactions
and colour. This innovative method is the result of experimentation by Unite and now
forms the basis for much of her recent glass art works.

 Unite explores the relationship between man and earth and the impact of mining and industrialisation on the landscape. Her method of art production, in which the earth's
minerals become the artist's materials, reinforces the mining theme expressively.

A Kelloggs Foundation Art competition first prize was a four year all inclusive scholarship launched Unite's career as an artist. Jeannette Unite believes in sharing experiences
through community involvement and is currently planning a trip into the African continent
to continue documenting and researching the mining theme for an art book while
facilitating Art workshops. Prior to full time practice as an independent artist Jeannette lectured for 10 years, followed by teaching educators to teach art in Nyanga Township,
Cape Town. 

Unite Studio has produced creative art animation films for large concert productions such as the 3500 audience Helsinki New Year concert in Finland for which an art animation was projected on a 3 story screen behind the Sibelius Orchestra. Cheryl Carolus, the then CEO
of SA Tourism launched the accompanying exhibition on South African design and art
entitled 'SA Today'.

Unite recently won a public art commission from the CSIR Buildings of the Department of Science and Technology and was shortlisted for Johannesburg's Constitution Hill's artwork installation where she will be exhibiting in March 2009

This award winning artist works with architects and designers on site specific commissions
for corporate Headquarters for significant collections internationally, including law firm Clifford Chance, Swiss:Re, Vodacom, MTN and Anglo's Iron Ore HQ - KUMBA. 

Closely aligned with environmentally conscious art production, Unite has perpetrated her
own brand of eco-alchemy.

For more information and images contact
Jeannette Unite Studio
+27 82 925 1834
art@unite.co.za